Gillard to stop RSPT ads; asks miners to talk

The new leader of the Australian Labor Party Julia Gillard said the government would cancel advertisements about the controversial resource super profits tax and asked the mining industry to do the same.

“I do believe that there is a consensus emerging that Australians are entitled to a fairer share," Ms Gillard said ahead of her swearing in as Australia’s 27th Prime Minister.

She said she was “throwing open" the government’s door on the issue. “I’m inviting the mining industry to walk through that door."

Ms Gillard also pledged to cancel the government’s taxpayer-funded advertisement about the controversial RSPT.

“In an exercise of respect I am asking the mining industry to do the same with its advertising campaign,"she said.

Negotiations with the mining industry will be led by her new deputy Wayne Swan and Resources Minister Martin Ferguson.

Ms Gillard said that she will be seeking a consensus on the resources super profits tax. “But to reach a consensus we need to more than consult, we need to negotiate."

“We will work through step by step, piece by piece, in a spirit of negotiations."